Check version of Windows Vista from offline partition

I have a Vista partition that, due to a number of missing key system files, will no longer boot properly. I understand a re-install is possible, but first I need to learn which version (original, SP1, SP2, etc.) of Vista I have installed in order to select the right media.

In XP, I understand there was a file that was buried within the system directory that could be accessed if booting into the OS was not possible. Is there a similar technique for Vista I can use? I'm interested in a purely "offline" solution (i.e. access this information from a Linux boot disc/partition).

Thanks,

NBJack

---- SOLUTION UPDATE ----

I did a little digging through the .TXT files in the Windows directory. For XP, the EULA.txt in Windows\System32 will, at the very end, lists the version installed. As for Vista, the best file I've discovered is license_addendum_1.txt in Windows\System32\en-US had the same information.

Thanks, but I still have the issue of whether or not this is an OEM release, whether or not SP1 is installed, etc.

All repair attempts have failed at this point (including all automatic repairs Vista makes available), and I'm trying to avoid systematically going through my disc images. The original installation disc is lost in time, and I have several to choose from. Once I find the proper version, I should be able to perform a repair install.

You may try to make a repair with any version until finding the good one. You must take in consideration which Windows it is Basic etc.... and also Sp1 or not. but normally any version would do it as they boot sequence and repair remains the same.

Also what is the recent changes you did before getting this problem? Installation of Activation or another program or hardware?

Yes sorry I make an error and finally found that SP2 is out for about a year thanks to Matthew to remind me about that. This is due i'm completely on Windows 7 since nearly a year since the 7 first build was out.